ATP Madrid: Roger Federer is looking for the feeling from 2009
Roger Federer will play his first clay court match in almost three years against Richard Gasquet on Tuesday evening. The starting shot is of all places where his magical journey towards the French Open title also began in 2009: at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit:
May 07, 2019, 12:00 pm

It was the dominant topic in the off-season: Will Roger Federer play on sand in 2019? Is the Swiss fit enough to keep up with Nadal, Djokovic and Thiem? Can the 20-time Grand Slam winner still show good clay court tennis after a break of almost three years? After the Australian Open it was clear: At least Federer himself can answer all of these questions with yes.
After losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last sixteen in Melbourne, Federer explained why he wanted to play on clay again: “I felt that I wanted to do it again. I'm in a phase in which I want to have fun. "But if you know the ambitious fourth in the world rankings, you know: Federer doesn't return to ashes out of pure joke. The 37-year-old wants to win - preferably at the Stade de Roland Garros.
In an interview with RTS (Radio Television Suisse), the Confederate alluded to the fact that he really trusted the title in the city of love. "It takes a bit of luck and a good draw," Federer said diplomatically.
Madrid 2009 - The starting shot for Federer's best clay court season
The journey to his second French Open title should begin in Madrid. The high altitude of the Spanish capital accommodates the aggressive game Federers, moreover he will start with good memories due to his three previous tournament victories in the Spanish capital. In 2006 the father of four won the event, which was still held on hard court at the time, and six years later Federer secured the title on the highly controversial blue clay court.
In between is another triumph from 2009. In the final, Federer was able to beat his permanent rival Rafael Nadal for the first time after five previous defeats. It was the starting signal for the best clay court season in Federer's career, which culminated on June 7th in Roland Garros. "I could have ended my career at this point," said the record Grand Slam champion proudly looking back on the triumph in Paris.
I could have ended my career at this point.
Roger Federer on the 2009 French Open triumph
Exactly ten years later, the maestro still wants to know - this season for the first time since 2016, again on sand. The last game on ashes was played by Federer against a man who will be one of his toughest rivals this clay court season: In the round of 16 of Rome, he lost to Barcelona winner Dominic Thiem in two sets.
It is also Thiem's former trainer Günter Bresnik who counts Federer on ashes to the extended circle of favorites: “If he gets back on sand, then you can count on him. His record of victories and defeats is also one of the best on sand. ”
The competition is weakening
What Federer also plays in the cards: Probably the best clay court player of all time - Rafael Nadal - is not acting so confidently in the current clay court season as in the past two seasons. This is demonstrated, among other things, by the semi-final defeat in Monte Carlo against Fabio Fognini and the aforementioned bankruptcy against Dominic Thiem. In addition, the Mallorcan repeatedly points out in interviews that the many injuries have left their mark.
Even Novak Djokovic has not shown his best tennis since the Australian Open in Melbourne. After two early losses in Indian Wells and Miami, the world number one had to leave Monaco earlier than planned as a loser. Daniil Medvedev proved too strong for the Serb in the quarter-finals.
The signs could therefore be worse for Federer. How it is with the game of the maestro itself will only be shown in the Caja Magica. The place where the wondrous journey to the only French Open victory to date began ten years ago. Could history repeat itself? It would surely be one of the greatest sports sensations ever. But who - if not Roger Federer - can you do that?